India’s office real estate market is witnessing strong momentum as Global Capability Centres (GCCs) expand their footprint across the country. The surge in GCC activity is reshaping office space demand, with multinational companies strengthening their presence in metro cities while gradually exploring tier II locations for cost and talent advantages. This shift reflects India’s growing role as a strategic global hub beyond traditional back-office outsourcing.
According to data from JLL India, the GCC sector added a record 31 million sq ft of office space in the last year, compared to 28 million sq ft in the corresponding period a year ago. The top 6 cities account for over 90% of current GCC activity, though tier II cities are steadily increasing their share. More than 200 new GCCs have entered India in the past 2 years, and the total footprint is expected to cross 350 million sq ft within 3–4 years. US-headquartered firms contributed nearly 70% of GCC demand between 2018 and 2025.
Bengaluru leads the GCC landscape with a 34–39% share and over 900 GCC units, while Hyderabad holds 20–23%, supported by its strong healthcare and biotech ecosystem. Pune and other major metros continue to anchor growth. “Bengaluru’s comprehensive strength across IT/ITeS, research and development, innovation centers, and retail operations makes it the preferred destination for companies seeking world-class offshoring capability development,” said Rahul Arora of JLL. Shekhar Patel of CREDAI noted that “GCC occupiers are prioritising resilience, talent proximity and long-term operating efficiency over pure expansion,” adding that developers must deliver Grade A assets aligned with multi-city strategies.
At the same time, secondary markets such as Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Mysuru and Kochi are emerging as strong business hubs. Office absorption by GCCs in tier II cities recorded its highest growth of 7–8% in the last year. These cities offer 10–35% cost savings and access to new talent pools supported by improving infrastructure and state policies. “The future belongs to GCCs that view location strategy not as a cost center, but as a competitive differentiator,” said Samantak Das of JLL, highlighting India’s evolution into a resilient, multi-city network for global enterprises.
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